A former Jefferson County teacher has been arrested on charges of having inappropriate sexual contact with a student.

Jennifer Marie Perry, 27, surrendered to the Jefferson County Jail on Monday, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. She is charged with having sexual contact with a 17-year-old student at Pinson Valley High School.

Investigators launched their probe Feb. 24 after being contacted by school administrators. Chief Deputy Randy Christian said Perry went to school officials and reported that students told her there was a rumor going around at school that she had engaged in a sex act with student.

She denied any involvement with the student and resigned. Her last day on the school's campus was Feb. 24.

The teacher and the student met a few miles away from campus in a parking lot and engaged in a consensual sex act inside a vehicle, Christian said. Court records show that meeting happened on Feb. 8.

"Our investigation indicates that this was a one time occurrence," he said. "The student was not in any of the classes taught by the suspect."

Detectives on March 13 obtained the warrant against Perry. She turned herself in Monday afternoon and was released after posting $30,000 bond.

Perry, who is married and from Odenville, graduated from Jacksonville State University in 2014 with a bachelor's degree in secondary education with a concentration in English Language Arts. She taught freshman English at Pinson Valley High School, and was the cheerleading sponsor.

"You know it is not an easy process to become a school teacher. Obtaining a degree and successfully going through a competitive hiring process in a school system is a challenge and those that secure a job I know count themselves fortunate," Christian told AL.com. "For the life of me, I can't understand why after successfully navigating such a process that a teacher would risk a career by carrying on such a relationship with a young person entrusted to their care. It's also kind of amazing they believe it's possible a teen will keep their little secret."

"The school administration is to be commended for taking immediate action," he said. "That was helpful to us in bringing this to a close."

Related: Below are other teachers who have recently been accused of having inappropriate relationships with students